Store-service apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(NoModelJ LT. T. COWLEY.

STORE SERV-IGE APPABATUS.

N0."402,568-. Patented May '7, 1889 N, PETERS. pmmulhn m hor. Washm im D. t:v

(Np Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented May 7,

: II n N PETERS. Pholn-Lilhugnpher. Waihingim me:

UNITED ST TES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. OOYVLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY,

OF NEW JERSEY.

- STORE-.SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,568, dated May '7, 1889.

Application filed October 30, 1836. Serial No. 217,613. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs T. COWLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. A

My invention relates to apparatus for carrying cash in stores, and especially to that class of apparatus in which the cars are forci bly projected from one end of the way to the other by the act of the attendant or operator;

and my invention consists in certain improvements in'the projecting devices and in the appliances for arresting and retaining the cars until the moment they should be projected, and in the construction of the cars themselves, as fully set forth hereinafter, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of my improved store-service apparatus as is arranged at one end of the way. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the part of the apparatus at the opposite end of the way. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line 1 2, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is 'a front elevation of the bracket. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan illustrating a modification.

The way A, as shown, is a horizontal wire; but it may be of any suitable character to support a traveling car, B, with or without wheels. As shown, the car has a body or frame, K,withl arms 2 2, supporting recessed vitreous sleeves 3 3, bearing on thef way, the hard surfaces constituting anti-friction bearings of a very durable character. The way is connected at each end to a support, which may be secured by a set-screw, 40, Fig.2, to a bracket or hanger, C, that supports the propelling devices, or is attached to the Wall of the room or other fixed object, as shown in dotted'lines, Fig. 1, so as to relieve the hanger of excessive strains.

The propelling device is provided with a guidedpush-block, D, moving parallel to the way, with an arm, 6, having a notch. or recess for the passage of the way.

The bracket in the construction shown is a vertically-hanging rod or tube, '7, suitably braced, if necessary, and from the lower end extends over the way the guide-rod 8 of the push-block D, which travels on the guide between stops 10 11, each consisting ofv rubber or yielding material, the stop ll being adjustable on the guide. 7

The push-block is connected with a handle, Q, by a flexible connection, as a cord, chain, or, as shown, a steel band, 12, which passes under a guide-pulley, 13, up through the hanger-tube 7, over a guidepulley, 14:, and hangs down with the handle in reach of the salesman or cashier, who, by pulling on the handle or lower end of the cord, can move the push-block either directly or by the (listention of a spring in the line of the flexible connection.

In the construction shown there is a rubber or coiled spring, 15, which is in the lineof the flexible connection. For instance, the spring forms part of said connection within and 0011- cealed by the tube 7, so that by pulling on the handle Q (the movement of the push block being resisted or prevented) the spring Will be distended and will be held under ten sion bybringing a stop,16,upon the cord into a .notch, :20, in a lug, '17, on the bracket. Upon the release of the push-block the reaction of the spring will move the block quickly upon its guide in the direction of the arrow, so as to move with it the carrier and shoot the latter quickly along the way.

A rod, 18, extends-from the out-er end of the rod 8 toward the upper part of the hanger tube or rod 7 and braces the guide, and brace wires or stays 19 extend from the rod 8, or

lower part of the hanger, to the walls or ceiling of the room.

In order to permit the spring to be drawn to such. a tension as I to properly propel the car by its reaction, I provide means for temance, which is overcome as the spring is fully I extended. The retaining means consist of two catches, E E, (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 as pivoted L-shaped dogs,) supported in a yoke, F, at the end of the guide 8, so as to e11 gage with parts of the car on opposite sides thereof. As shown, one arm of each catch E extends through a slot, g, in one of the arms of the yoke, the catch vibrating on a pin, 21, a screw-pin, 22, extending through the outer arm, so as to limit the play of the catch upon its pin in one direction without interfering with the free movement in the other direction. A coiled spring, 25, tends to keep each catch in the position shown in Fig. 3.

The parts that come into contact are yielding, so that while they abut and prevent the outward motion of the car the application of sufficient pressure will force the car past the stops, the contacting parts finally yielding to permit this result.

The yielding contacts may be differently constructed and arranged. I prefer to use contact-pieces embodying the elasticity in themselvesas, for instance, vertical elastic rolls 29 29, so arranged on the car as to make contact with the catches and swing them inward as the car approaches the end of its travel and to abut against shoulders of the catches as the car moves back, either by rebound or under the action of the push-block.

The springs that tend to hold the catches in the position shown in Fig. 3 are so weak that the catches will vibrate with practically no resistance to permit the car to move inward past them, but will on the passage of the contacting rolls swing the catches outward, so as to present the shoulders or sides w of the catches to the rolls and stop the rebound of the car. It will be evident that the catches may be otherwise made. For instance, as shown in Fig. 5, each catch may be a springblade riveted to one of the arms of the yoke F and bent to form the shoulders 10', and the contact-pieces E may be rigid bevel-sided blocks secured to the car and serving topush back the catches until they pass the shoulders w,when'the catches will spring out and present the shoulders in position to stop the car on its rebound.

The parts, while constructed to prevent the car from rebounding past the catches, must not absolutely prevent it from passing the catches on the application of suflicient force. I therefore so proportion the stiffness of the spring-catches shown in Fig. 5, or .of the rubber contact-pieces shown in Fig. 3, that they will yield to excessive pressure, and when sufi'icient power is applied to the car the catches or contact-pieces will yield and permit the car to move outward. As a result of this construction, when the tape 12 is drawn down to distend the spring 15, the push-block presses against the car, and when the power of the spring 15 becomes sufficient the frictional resistance to the car will be overcome and it will pass the catches, and then, being relieved of all resistance, will move readily, and the spring 15 will suddenly contract, moving the push-block quickly outward and projecting the car with a sudden impetus along the line.

To prevent the car from rebounding suddenly after it is arrested, I form the arms 30 30 of the yoke F at the rear of the catches with converging sides 1) 7), so that the contactpieces on the car will make contact with said converging sides, and thereby meet with a frictional resistance to the outward movement of the car, and also on its rebound, thereby reducing the force of such rebound. Should the push-block be thrown violently inward, it will hit against a bumper-spring, 10, and its outward motion is arrested against the bumper spring 11, so as to prevent shocks. The adjustment of the stop 11 is mainly for the purpose of regulating the force of the projection and the rapidity and extent of movement imparted to the car.

After a car has been projected by drawing on the tape 12, the latter can be released, leaving the push-block free in the position shown in Fig. 1. While the block might move inward under the impetus of the next car, and thus act as a buffer, bywhich the momentum of the car is arrested just as it arrives at the station, so that a greater portion of its momentum is taken up thereby, and is engaged by the retaining device with less jar or noise, I have provided means to carry it back automatically, so as to offer no resistance whatever to the entrance of the car, thereby insuring the same being caught if sent with a light impetus. One means of drawing back the push-blockis a retract0r such as a weight or spring-and these may be differently arranged. Thus a rubber bandspring, 35, dotted lines, Fig. 1, is shown as connected to the hanger and the push-block to draw it back. I prefer, however, a coiled metal spring, 30, shown in full lines and bearing on a jointed connecting-rod, I, consisting of two parts, one jointed to the hanger and the other to the push-block, the spring 36 bearing on the joint between the parts and tending to move them to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and force the pushblock to the limit of its movement from the hanger.

It will be seen that as the car contacts with the push-block at a point immediately adjacent to the wire the movement of the pushpiece does not tend to force the car away from the Wire. I V i In the arrangement shown the guide 8 of the push-block projects back from the hangerbar 7, so that the car can pass below the latter. This permits the car to move back beyond its support into the cashiers desk or near to the counter.

By concealing the spring it is not only protected, but the apparatus is rendered lighter and better in appearance than when the spring is exposed. Instead of using the hollow rod 7 as a concealing shield or casing, the spring may be concealed in a hollow in the handle Q, Fig. 1.

The receptacle J of the car is connected d,e

tachably to the body or frame K and is provided with a top' flange, 41, which, when,

brought against the beveled faces of springbolts 43, carried by the frame K, forces the latter back until the flange is above the bolts, when the latter spring in and lock the receptacle to the frame. The receptacle is provided below the flange with two incline-faced lugs, 42 a2, so that when the receptacle is to be detached it is turned until the inclined face a of each lug is brought against theend of each bolt and forces the latter back until it is outside the edge of the flange 41, when the receptacle can be drawn away from the frame. V

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, l claim-=- 1. In a cash-carrier apparatus, the combination, with a pendant having a guide parallel with the way, of a carriage ,push-block' adapted to slide on said guide, a spring-open ated retractor connected to said block, and an operating-cordand a spring applied thereto for giving the forward impulses to said block, substantially as described.

2. In a cash-carrier apparatus, the combination; with a pendant having a guide parallel with the way and a push-block thereon,

of jointed rods, an automatic retractor for the rods, an operating-cord connected to the block and supported by pulleys, as described, and a propelling-spring in the line'of said cord, for the purpose specified.-

' 3. The combination, in acash-carrier apparatus, of a car push-block applied to recipro-' cate on a horizontal guide and operated by the means described with the adj ustablecush io'ned'stop and the elastic cushion 10, applied at the end of said guide, substantially as described. I

4. In a cash-carrier apparatus, the combination, with a supporting-bracket having a hollow pendant, of a reciprocating car push- .block, an actuating or pull cord therefor, and

a car-propelling spring applied to this cord and arranged within the hollow pendant, to operate substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the way of a storeservice apparatus, of a push-block supported by a guide to move parallel with the way, said guide extending parallel with and along the terminal part of the way traversedby the car,

and connections between the block and the station of the attendant, whereby the block maybe moved by the latter to propel the car- 1 rier upon the way, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the way, a pushblock guided over the end of the way traversed by the car and moving parallel thereto and having a projection extending in close proximity to the way, and a carrier provided with a bearing for contacting with said projection, whereby the contact between the push-block and the carrier is in immediate proximityto the way, substantially as and for the'purpos'e set forth.

7. The combination of the way, a car, a

push-block, and a connection extending from the latter to the station, a jointed connectingrod, I, connecting the push-block and its support, and a spring acting to extend the said rod and retract the push-block, substantially asset forth.

9. The combination of the way, a sliding push-block, a guide therefor extending parallel with and along a portion of the way travs ersed by the carrier, a flexible connection between the push-block and the operators station, and a spring in the line of the said connection and constituting a part thereof, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the way, a guide supportedby at'ubular rod, a push-block upon the guide, and a flexible connection extending from the push-block to the operators station set forth 11. The combination, with the guide andv its support, of the push-block, a connection extending from the latter to the operators station, and a spring in the line of said connection inclosed by a concealing-casing, substantially as set forth. V

'12. The combination of the way and a bracket or hanger consisting of avertical rod terminating above the way and having a horizontal guide, a push-block sliding upon the guide, and a flexible connection extending from the push-block around guide-pulleys upon the hanger to the operators station, substantially as set forth.

13 The combination of the Way, a horizon tal guide carrying a push-block, a vertical tubular rod supporting the guide and provided with guide-pulleys, and a flexible connection between the push-block and operators station, extending from the push-b1ock around said pulleys and through the tubular rod, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, with the bracket provided with a horizontal guide and sliding push-block, of elastic buffers, one of which is adjustably'arranged to limit the movements of the push-block to regulate the force acting on the car," substantially as set forth.

15. The combination, with the way and adevice for propelling the car upon the way, of yielding catches provided with shoulders 16. The combination,with a way and a pro- I pelling device, of a car provided with contactpieces and yielding catches supported adjacent to and on opposite sides of the way in position to be struck by said contact-pieces to yield to the inward movement of the car, and with shoulders affording a frictional resistance to the outward movement of the car, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination, with the way and a car provided with yielding contact-pieces, of pivoted catches upon opposite sides of the Way hungto swing freely upon the inward movement of the car and provided with springs for throwing them outward to offer a frictional obstruction to the outward movement of the car, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination of the way, a car, and yielding contact-pieces and pivoted catches on opposite sides of theway, actuating-springs, bearings, and set-screws 22, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. The combination of the yielding shouldered catches E E and a car provided with two contact-pieces consisting of vertical yielding rollers, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination of the way, a car, catches, and a yoke provided with arms having converging faces or sides '22 c, substantially as and for the purpose described.

21. The combination, with the way, a guide,

a propelling device, and a car, of a yoke supporting catches for retaining the car and supported by the guide, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination of a car having bevel- 3 5 ended catch-bolts upon the frame and a detachable receptacle provided with \continuous end flange, 41, having a beveled upper edge, and lugs forming part of and below said flange, and having inclined faces at the sides 40 thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

28. A store-service car provided with vertical elastic rollers 29 on opposite sides of the center of the car, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

24. The combination of away and a hanger consisting of a vertical rod and a horizontal rod having its lower end above the 'way, constituting a guide for the push-bar, and extending from the vertical rod over the way and toward the station, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

\Vitnesses:

EDWIN L. GILES, C. W. LocKE. 

